Ben Lowry: At the height of winter, there are still hints of renewal and hope

But I never think of this as a lifeless or frozen time. Rather, from January I enjoy the season as a gradual move into spring.

It does not matter much if it is wet, grey, windy or cold, because all around us are hints of renewal and hope — above all in the stretching daylight, with the sun now setting near 6pm in Belfast, two hours later than the shortest day.

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